Like many other cities, Sandy’s wastewater infrastructure is aging and there is limited funding available to make improvements. Our existing system is no longer able to reliably meet federal and state requirements that protect local streams and rivers, and our growing community is adding additional demand to a system under increasing strain. Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is requiring the City to address these problems as soon as possible.
The City of Sandy has three water sources. During the spring, fall and winter approximately 50% of the City’s supply is purchased from the Portland Water Bureau. The remainder of our supply comes from Brownell Springs and Alder Creek. During the summer when demand increases, each source provides approximately one-third of the total supply.
The City of Sandy has three water sources. During the spring, fall and winter approximately 50% of the City’s supply is purchased from the Portland Water Bureau. The remainder of our supply comes from Brownell Springs (a city-owned natural spring on Lenhart Butte) and Alder Creek (a small tributary of the Sandy River). During the summer when demand increases, each source provides approximately one-third of the total supply.
The City obtains some of its municipal water supply from Alder Creek, a tributary of the Sandy River. The Alder Creek watershed comprises approximately 4200 acres, 3900 acres of which drain to the City’s diversion structure.
Land ownership within the watershed upstream of the intake
Brownell Springs was the City's sole water supply for more than 50 years, (1926 through 1977). Located on 22 acres of City-owned land on the north face of Lenhart Butte (approximately 6 miles east of Sandy) these springs consistently produce 250 to 350 gallons per minute (360,000 to 500,000 gallons per day). Peak flows tend to occur in August and September - the opposite of what one might expect. We assume that there is a lag between the time that winter precipitation enters the geologic formations under Lenhart Butte and the point at which the water emerges from the Springs.
In October, 2008 the City entered into a wholesale water supply agreement with the City of Portland. The agreement allows Sandy to obtain a minimum of 500,000 gallons per day up to a maximum of 3 million gallons per day from this source. This source supplements the Brownell Springs and Alder Creek sources which we still use.
Our community has outgrown our decades-old wastewater system, and we have been mandated by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to improve our infrastructure.
The Public Works Department is responsible for operating and maintaining the water, sewer, stormwater and transportation systems within the city limits. Use this link to access the Public Works website for the City of Sandy.
